GB2121149A - Missile housing and launch arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A missile housing and launch arrangement including an enclosure 1 of elongate form, with a mouth 22 at one end through which a missile can exit, a vent 23 at the other end through which exhaust gases can exit, missile guide rails 12/3 and 16 and a side region 8 of glass-reinforced-plastics armour for protection against attack, the arrangement further including a cradle 4 for mounting several of the enclosures 1 in a generally side-by- side manner with their armoured side regions directed generally outwardly, thereby to provide a protective screen. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Missile housing and launching arrangement This invention relates to missile storage and launch arrangements particularly, but not exclusiveiy, those for storing a missile in a generally upright manner and for effecting initially upwardly directed flight of the missile.

It is an objective of the invention to provide extra defensive protection for a vehicle or vessel on which the stored missiles are carried or to personnel and stores on the ground additional to the protection of the missiles themselves.

It is also an objective to provide a lightweight and relatively cheap missile enclosure which, together with other similar enclosures, can help provide such defensive protection.

According to one aspect of the invention, a missile housing and launch arrangement includes a missile enclosure of elongate form with a mouth at one end through which a missile can exit, a vent at the other end through which exhaust gases can exit, and an armoured side region for protection against attack, the arrangement further including means for mounting the enclosure such that a plurality of similar enclosures can be positioned in a generally side-by-side manner with their armoured side regions directed towards an expected attack thereby to provide a protective screen.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vehicle or vessel includes a plurality of similar missile enclosures, each enclosure being of elongate form with a mouth at one end through which a missile can exit, a vent at the other end through which exhaust gases can exit and an armoured side region for protection against attack, the vehicle or vessel further including cradle means for mounting the enclosures in a generally side-by-side manner with their armoured side regions directed generally outwardly of the vehicle or vessel, thereby to provide a defensive screen.

By these arrangements not only is a defensive screen provided but the enclosures require only that region which will face outwardly to be armoured. Thus a saving in cost and weight is effected.

Moreover, the light weight ensures portability and also that the roll characteristics of any vehicle or vessel on which they are carried are not adversely affected when the enclosures are mounted well above the roll axis thereof.

One embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an enclosure mounted upon a carrier vessel or vehicle, Figure 2 is an end view upon arrow II of Figure 1 showing in cross section the internal construction of the enclosure, Figure 3 is a sectional view on arrows Ill-Ill of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view on arrows IV--IV of Figure 2 with a missile housed within the enclosure, Figure 5 is a sectional view on arrows V-V of Figure 2, and Figure 6 is an impression of a series of enclosures carried by a vessel and forming a defensive screen.

In the Figures, an enclosure 1 for storing and effecting initially upwardly directed flight of a missile 2 (see Figure 4) is releasably carried in a generally upright manner on a vehicle or vessel 3 by means of a cradle 4. The cradle is shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 6, in relation to a vessel 3, a series of enclosures 1 can be conveniently mounted side-by-side to provide added protection for the superstructure 5 of the vessel. In Figure 1, this superstructure is shown at 6 and 6' respectively.

As is illustrated, each enclosure 1 and its associated cradle 4 has duct means 7 for ducting any exhaust gases from the missile overboard.

Each enclosure 1 is constructed as an elongate box, one side of which is formed by a side plate 8 of light weight armour, for example that glass reinforced plastics armour produced by Bristol Composite Materials PLC of Avonmouth, Bristol, whilst the remaining sides are formed by elongate hollow members of generally similar form reference 9, 9' and 9" flanged along their edges at 10 for mutual attachment and for attachment to the plate 8. The flanges 10 are shown in Figure 2 only. The hollow members are formed of titanium sheet 1.25 mm thick welded together at points 11. For clarity, in Figure 2, only those points 11 on member 9' are referenced, those points on members 9 and 9" are similar. Additionally, the flanges 10 can be welded together.The voids within the hollow members 9, 9' and 9" are filled with high density polyurethane foam, for example Baxenden "Isofoam".

Naturally, when the enclosures are arranged to form a protective screen, the plate 8 of each is directed outwards as illustrated.

Within the enclosure, a missile 2 is stored on guide rails which ensure correct exiting from the enclosure on launch. That member referenced 9 has two such guide rails, referenced 1 2 and 13, mounted in tandem as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, that referenced 1 3 lying somewhat inboard of that referenced 1 2. These guide rails are engaged by feet 14 and 1 5 at the front and rear respectively of the missile.

The members 9' and 9" each carry a single guide rail 1 5 which naturally lie opposite one another; they are engaged by feet 1 7 and 1 8 positioned midway along the missile 2.

The plate 8 carries at least one guide rail 19 which lies opposite that referenced 12 and is engaged by a foot 20 at the front of the missile 2.

The plate 8 also carries coolant ducts together with missile arming and sequencing devices referenced 21.

The top, that is to say the mouth, of each enclosure is sealed with an instantaneously removable or penetrable cover 22, whilst the bottom of each enclosure has a sealable flap 23 to allow exhaust flow on ignition. Thus, each enclosure is sealed so that it can be pressurised within a gas to prevent the ingress of corrosive materials and the consequent damage of its contents. Moreover in a shipborne environment, each enclosure will therefore be able to float if dropped overboard.

Naturally, the enclosures can be laid in side-byside manner, one on top of the other, such that their missiles exit in a generally horizontal direction.

Although described with reference to a vehicle or vessel, the housing and launch arrangement can be used to form a protective screen on the ground.

Claims (14)

1. A vehicle or vessel including a plurality of similar missile enclosures, each enclosure being of elongate form with a mouth at one end through which a missile can exit, a vent at the other end through which exhaust gases can exit and an armoured side region for protection against attack, the vehicle or vessel further including cradle means for mounting the enclosures in a generally side-by-side manner with their armoured side regions directed generally outwardly of the vehicle or vessel, thereby to provide a defensive screen.

2. A vehicle or vessel according to Claim 1, in which the missile enclosure and the cradle means are arranged to launch the missiles generally upwardly.

3. A vehicle or vessel according to Claim 2, wherein means are provided to direct the missile exhaust gases in a generally outwards direction.

4. A vehicle or vessel according to any one of the previous Claims, wherein the enclosures are removable from and replaceable on the cradle means.

5. A vehicle or vessel according to any one of the previous Claims, wherein the enclosures are of generally rectangular cross section with only one flat face armoured.

6. A vehicle or vessel according to any one of the previous Claims, wherein the enclosures are sealed and pressurised against ingress of corrosive materials.

7. A missile housing and launch arrangement including a missile enclosure of elongate form with a mouth at one end through which a missile can exit, a vent at the other end through which exhaust gases can exit, and an armoured side region for protection against attack, the arrangement further including means for mounting the enclosure such that a plurality of similar enclosures can be positioned in a generally sideby-side manner with their armoured side regions directed towards an expected attack thereby to provide a protective screen.

8. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to Claim 7, wherein the missile enclosure and the mounting means are arranged to launch the missile generally upwardly.

9. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the enclosure is provided internally with guide means to guide a housed missile during launch.

10. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to any one of Claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein means are provided to direct exhaust gas laterally outwards of the enclosure away from any further enclosures positioned in a side-by-side manner.

11. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to any one of Claims 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the enclosure is removable from and replaceable on the mounting means.

12. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to any one of Claims 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein the enclosure is of rectangular cross section with only one flat face armoured.

13. A missile launch and housing arrangement according to any one of Claims 7 to 12, wherein the enclosure is sealed and pressurised against ingress of corrosive materials.

14. A vehicle or vessel including enclosures and cradle means, substantially as arranged and described with reference to the accompanying Figures.

1 5. A missile launch and housing arrangement having an enclosure, substantially as described, with reference to Figures 1 to 5.